Major Syrian media activist shot dead in Idlib

A prominent Syrian media activist was gunned down by gunmen in the rebel-controlled Idlib province of Syria.

Raed Fares, a well-known Syrian media activist, was killed in Kafranbel, a city in the northwest of the country.

Mr. Fares founded Radio Fresh, an independent radio station that broadcasts from areas of the country controlled by the opposition.

He and his radio station had been targeted by jihadist groups in the past.

Four years ago, when the Islamic State group was present in Idlib province, the station office was invaded by militants. In 2016, Mr. Fares was arrested by Front Nusra, the former Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria.

The Hayat Alliance Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which currently controls most of Idlib province, ordered Radio Fresh to stop broadcasting music.

The station reacted by emitting "sarcastic" sounds such as animal noises.

Radio Fresh's Facebook page has published a photo of Mr. Fares' body on November 23, as well as an image of the body of Hammoud Juneid, another activist who was shot dead.

The news of his death has caused a wave of sorrow on social media from activists and international journalists.